The saying “hindsight is 20/20” means if we could see clearly what was going to happen in the past, we would have made the wisest decisions. In hindsight, things are now obvious that weren’t obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly now. COVID-19 has turned the world upside down and has ruined lives. But there is hope and you can be the beacon of light.
Since last year was 2020, it’s an interesting play on words to see what choices we would have made if we had a clearer vision of what 2020 would have brought to us. Would we have made safer choices or did we go overboard with safety measures? Did we catch the coronavirus and pass it on to others? Did we or are we now struggling with the idea of receiving a vaccine shot? Were we attacking other people for wearing or not wearing a mask? Did we lose friends over the USA presidential election? Are we grieving the loss of a loved one, a job or a life-savings? Did we witness ethnic hate-crimes or increased prejudices? Would we have made better choices if we had known how things were going to turn out?
Hate Crimes and Domestic Violence
The world will be feeling many scars from the COVID-19 pandemic for a very long time. Asian-Americans are quite aware that anti-Asian hate crimes have risen by 150% in 2020, even though the overall percentage of ethnic hate crimes has decreased by 7 percent. After the stay-at-home orders were put into place, the rates of domestic violence have increased from double digits across the United States, up to 50% in Brazil and 300% in China; leaving victims in close contact with their abusers for longer periods of time.
While we cannot turn a blind eye to the horrors and pain in the world, we must be careful to avoid reading all the doom and gloom every day, allowing ourselves to fall into depression as well. Here are important steps to take to emerge from this pandemic with limited scars for ourselves and loved ones.
6 Steps to Improve Lives During COVID-19
- Be smart and safe. If others around you are not taking the safety precautions seriously, do your best to avoid letting down your guard. On the flip side, avoid causing a scene by “being the guy or gal” that won’t conform to the local safety policy.
- Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face; just like you would during any flu season. COVID-19 can be avoided by being careful.
- Pay close attention to vulnerable people such as children and elderly to make sure they are not being neglected. Ask them how their day went and listen to their stories so they may share their feelings with you.
- If you suspect someone you know is being abused, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233). Calling the police first is a natural instinct, but this can make things worse. The hotline is a great start.
- Focus on making a positive difference in the world. With Junga the Dancing Yeti™ books, videos, school presentations and lesson plans, we are doing our part to make a difference for children. Junga, Grandma Yeti, Heidi and Groth are all characters designed to help children learn more about acceptance and empathy.
- For every minute you spend reading or watching something that is depressing or negative, match or exceed that time with inspirational and motivating material or videos.
You too can find a way to help improve lives by staying safe and being level-headed. You can motivate others who watch you lead by example. Spend quality time checking in on others and help them through these challenging times. It’s time for the COVID-19 scars of 2020 to start healing, but we are not out of the woods quite yet.